Kira raised an eyebrow. "Is that what I did?"
Their glares were fulminating.
Kira speared each of the initiates with a penetrating look, her resemblance to her uncle clear enough in that instant that it was startling.
"Or did you do that to yourself?" Her voice was hard, her stare flat.
The humans traded a look, communicating with unspoken words. They weren't the only ones who caught her hint. Joule glanced up at the monolith with a puzzled look. His face cleared seconds later as his lips parted, and his attention swung back to the spectacle.
"Hmm. He's not bad at reading a situation," Maida murmured, her gaze locked on the young Tuann.
"Of those present, he and the humans are the ones who've acquitted themselves best this morning," Amila agreed.
The rest of them were silent as they watched the initiates deal with this latest development.
The test of the monolith wasn’t only meant to test the initiate’s manipulation of their soul’s breath. It was also meant to force them to recognize that there were some hurdles they weren’t yet ready to face alone. Its purpose was designed to get them to work together and figure out a way to best utilize each other’s talents.
What none of those present realized was that none of them would be deemed ready untilallof them had reached the top.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Devon demanded.
An angry exhale escaped Kira, her patience visibly evaporating. "It means you need to learn to listen to what is not being said as closely as you do to what is being said."
Wren's gaze locked on Kira as she pointed at the monolith.
"When did he ever say this was a solo mission? Why haven't one of you tried working with the rest to conquer that piddly wall?" Each word came out forcefully as her voice raised so everyone could hear her. "You would have been done weeks ago if you'd bothered to capitalize on each other's strengths."
Devon looked ready to spit, unwilling to retreat. Rheya held herself stiffly, not any more inclined to listen than him.
Both looked seconds from challenging Kira, a fact the humans seemed to be aware of as they stepped up to stand shoulder to shoulder with her.
A pinched look settled on Rheya's face as the odds tilted out of her favor. She visibly swallowed her anger, her stance easing.
Devon didn't show the same inclination, aggression in his posture as he took a threatening step forward.
Kira stiffened, her eyes flattening as she stared him down. "If I were you, I would rethink whatever is in your mind right now."
The words barely made Devon pause, a formal challenge forming on his lips.
Graydon prowled closer, danger rolling off him. That was enough of that. The boy showed promise, but if he challenged anyone in full view of theseon’yersand oshota, he would find his tenure in Roake cut short.
While those past theadva kararely interfered in the challenges of their juniors, there was a time and place for such things. In full view of two pods of oshota while in the midst of training was not it.
That the boy didn't understand that fact said he still had a long way to go—no matter how developed his skills.
"Trouble, Kira?"
His words seemed to have the effect of an electrical whip on Kira as she stiffened, invisible hackles rising as her gaze swung toward his.
Ah, there was his littleaksa. Her resemblance to a fist-sized animal of this world whose stubbornness and bloodthirsty viciousness were in direct disproportion to their smaller size was unmistakable.
Kira held in her instinctive remark. Pity. He would have been interested in her unfiltered response.
Instead, Kira arranged her face in what she no doubt thought was a pleasant expression but didn't manage to hide a speck of her irritation.
His oshota struggled to keep straight faces as Kira stared at him balefully. "Nothing that concerns you, commander. Just a friendly challenge among friends."
Lazy interest curled through Graydon as he moved his eyes over the others. "I confess I wouldn't mind seeing that."
